Insect barrier for trees



June'ZI, 1932. A. T. REPP INSECT BARRIER FOR TREES Filed' July 18, 19;].

ALBERT 7? REPP Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STA ALBERT 'I'. REPP, .OF GLASSBORO, NEW JERSEY INSECT BARRIER FOR TREES .Application filed, July 18,

This invention relates to the eradication of I horticultural insects,- and particularly to the control of the coddling moth in orchards.

The life habits of the coddling moth are well known. In the spring, in April or May, for example, according to latitude, the moth which has pupated during the winter in a cocoon beneath the bark, emerges and deposits eggs on the leaves. The eggs hatch in about eleven days and the young larvae enter the newly formed fruit in which it remains for a period of about twenty days until it has attained its full growth. In the meantime, however, some of the apples may have M fallen from the tree to the ground with the larvae within; and when the larvae attains adult size it crawls back to the trunk, or larger limbs, and pupates for a period of two weeks. In the case of those apples which remain on the tree, the adult larvae crawls to the bark of the trunk or limbs and pupates. The merging moth of this brood lays eggs generally upon the fruit itself, which by this time 5 is quite large. The larvae of this brood, upon for the full period of growth. Some of the fruit may fall necessitating that the full grown larvae must return to the trunk by way of the ground. The larvae in those fruit which remain on the tree merely crawl down to the trunk and go into pupation, this time constructing the cocoons beneath the bark in preparation of the winter and passing most of the winter in the cocoon in the larval state.

Thus there are two or more broods annually. The life cycle of the summer brood being longer than the life cycle of the spring brood, but in each brood a part of the larval existence of the insect is spent in the fruit itself and the return of the larvae to the trunk, either by way of the ground, in the case of those fruit which have fallen, or by way of the limbs, in the case of those fruit which remain on the tree, can be prevented, and the life cycle of the insect is interrupted and it can be eradicated.

The object of the present invention is to provide a barrier both to prevent those larvae ing to the trunk and to place a fatal obstruchatching, enter the fruit and remains there which have fallen with the fruit from return- A 1931. Seriallio. 551,765.

tion in the way of those larvae which travel down the limbs from the fruit remaining on the tree, for purposes of pupation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a barrier of the type disclosed, charged 5 with an insecticide which will destroy the life of such larvae as may try to cross the barrier.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a prefelflfed-- and practical embodiment. thereof I'O,Ceeds.

In the drawing accompanying the specification, and in which the same characters of reference have been used throughout the severalfigures to designate identical parts Figure 1. 's a view in elevation of that portion of a tree included between the ground and lower limbs, showing thedevioe of my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper; barrier; that is to say, the one designed to prevent the migration of the larvae from the fruit to the trunk byway of the limbs;

Figure '3 is a perspective view ofthat form of barrier which prevents the return of the larvae from the fallen fruit by way of the ground to the trunk;

' Figure 4 is a development of the barrier shown in Figure 3; and s Figure 5 isa detail showing the adjust---- ing feature by which the height of the Oi reservoir may be adjusted.

' Referring now in detail to the several figures, and first adverting to that form of the barrier which is shown in the upper part of-- I Figure l; the numerals l and 2 represent the matchinghalves of a cylindrical member of non-absorptive material and preferably of metal, each half being formed at its upper end with a trough 3, the troughs of thehalves, telescoping slightly when the halves are in 1 matched position to form L complete annular trough adapted to surround the tree. A band 4 having interlocked ends 5 surrounds the halves 1 and 2 holding thenri in close contact with the tree. The interlocking joint 5 is of such flexible nature as to spread somewhat to p rmi engagem nt of he band a und r the press of he g wth of the t ee.-

A wick 6 is seated in the trough 3 and ,is connected by means of a wick 7 with a reservoir 8 adapted to contain a suitable insecticide, such as a light grade of oil.

Since the flow of oil along the wick 7 to the wick 6 is influenced by atmospheric conditions, being very slow in rainy weather, it is desirable to adjust the level of the reservoir 8 with respect to the wick 6. This adjustmentis accomplished by means of a bendable metallic lug 9 secured to the reservoir 8 and 1 having its end adapted to be bent into a hook and slipped behin'd'the barrier. supporting the reservoir 8 in position. When it is desired to change the level of the reservoir, this b may be easily accomplished by bending the metallic lug 9 at a suitable point so as to -lengthen or shorten its effective length as .required by circumstances. The matching halves l and 2 of the barrier are designed to fit the trunk closely just be- 12 i low/ the lower limbs so that when the larvae attempt to crawl across said barrier it must "necessarily cross the trough 3 and come in contactwith the wick 6, the oil or other in- -sectici-de coming in contact with the body of the larvae and'killing it. In view of the close fit of the halves 1 and 2, it will be impossible for the, larvae to crawl down the trunk between the trunk. and the barrier.

" Referring nowto that form of the invenc 3 tion shown in-the lower portion of Figure 1,

which comprises a sheet 10 of flexible nonabsorptive material, such for instance as metal, adapted to be wrapped around the "i'imp'ervious sheet adapted to encircle the tree,

a wick carried circumferentially by said sheet, a 'lt'eservoir'for supplying insecticide to said wick, and means for adjusting the height of said reservoirrelative to said wick.

2. Insect barrier as claimed in-cla-im 1,'the means for adjusting; the height of the reservoir comprising a bendable metal lug secured to said ireservoirvto be hooked vover the top ed eof said sheet. r n testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

QALBERT T. RE'PP,

I ms

tree and having at its free ends interlocking c 35 folds, as shown at 11. Since the trunk of the I tree usually increases in a diameter at the ground level, the cylindrical shield formed;

eter than the trunk of thetree so that. its

lower edge mayrpress against the ground.

It should be able either to enter the ground for a short distance or should have the earth heaped against it so that thelarvae can not i by-this sheet may be slightly larger in diamf crawl beneath it and thus gain access to the trunk. A wick 12 encircles the shield and an v oil reservoir 13, which may be similar to the oil reservoir 8, is suspended by a lug 14 bent in a hook which engages the upper end of the shield 10 and connected to the wick 6 by 1 the wick 16. The lug 14: is capable of being I bent at any desired point so as to effect the 7} same kind of adjustment, and for the same a purpose as has been describedin connection 1 jwith the 011 reservolr 8. I

It is apparent from the above description 'that the larvae crawling from the fallen fruit can not reach the trunk of the tree without 1 crossing the deadly barrier constructed by the wick 12, charged by capillarity with oil 7 3 5 or other insecticide from the reservoir 13;

c It will thus appear that the larvae from either brood is excluded from thetrunk of the tree and, therefore, prevented from pupating; and the life cycle being thus interfidrupted, the insect will be in part eradicated. I I 

